Washing device for autos



W. H. CROSBY, WASHING DEVICE FOR AUTOS APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920- Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ufa sky INVENTOR BY 485% ATTORNEY WITNESS.

W. H. CROSBY. WASHING DEVICE FOR AUTOS. APPLICATION FILED APR.26.1920.

Paterited Oct. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W11: awe/0 INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. CROSBY, OF CORNING, NEW YORK.

WASHING DEVICE FOR AUTOS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. CROSBY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Corning, in the county of Steuben and tate of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing Devices for Autos, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a vehicle washing apparatus.

The primary object is to produce a simple means whereby water or other cleansing fluid is caused to pass through aporous rubbing or cleansing element to which is attached a handle portion which is grasped by the operator to direct the cleaning element and the fluid passing therethrough to the several parts of the vehicle to be cleaned without necessitating the wetting of the operators hand.

A further object of the invention is to roduce a vehicle cleaning apparatus which shall be of a construction to permit of a cleaning fluid and a rubbing surface entering between parts of the vehicle which could not be conveniently reached by hand, and one wherein the operator need not contact with either the cleaning surface or with the fluid which passes through the cleaning surface.

A further object is to produce a vehicle cleaning apparatus in which a flexible pipe is connected to a source of water supply, the said pipe in turn being connected to a handle through which passes a tube that enters a porous cleaning element, such as a sponge,

means also entering the sponge, surround ing the tube and having a locking engagement with the handle for sustaining the cleaning element on the-tube and connected with the handle, said means also permitting the ready removal of the cleansingelement for the cleaning of the latter. Th foregoing objects, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts, such as is disclosed by the drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the handle end portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on he i e of F g Y Specification of Letters Batent.

' her 7. The pipe passes centrally Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed April26, 1920. Serial No. 376,826.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the dotted lines showing the, position of the parts of the sponge or cleansing'element' holding device when the nozzle end of the construction is to be inserted in or removed from the said sponge or cleansing element.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The numeral 1 designates a faucet connected with the source of water supply. The numeral 2 designates a flexible hose that has one of its ends connected by a suitable coupling to the faucet. The opposite or outer end of the hose carries the interiorly threaded element of a coupling, the exteriorly threaded element of the said coupling, indicated by the numeral 3 being carried by a valve controlled nozzle 4. The nozzle is connected by a flexible hose 5 through the medium of a clamp or coupling 6 to a pipe memthrough the handle member 8 of the improvement, and is secured in the handle in any desired or preferred manner. The portion of the pipe that projects through the outer end of the handle provides what I will term the nozzle end of the saidpipe, and the same is preferably arranged at a slight inclination with respect to the pipe proper. This nozzle end, indicated for distinction by has adjacent to its outer portions radially disposed apertures 10, and its open outer end incut transversely and the overlying portions provided by the said cuts are slightly flattened from the outer end or nozzle with oppositely disposed angular lips 11.

On the outer end of the handle 8 there is secured a cap 12, This cap has its outer closed end rovided with spaced openings 13, and the andle has longitudinal depressions 14: which are of a greater area and which surround the walls provided by the openings 13. i

The cleansing element, indicated by the numeral 15, is in the present instance in the nature of a sponge or other porous element and is slitted longitudinally through one of its edges to provide an interior pocket 16. In this pocket is received the nozzle 9 and the bail shaped portion 17 of the expansible element which holds the sponge on the device. The bail or U-shape'd portion of the holding element has its side members the numeral 9,

extended inwardly as at 18 towagd each section.

' partly other and from thence provided with parallel extensions in the nature of arms 19. The holding member is constructed of spring Wire, and the arms 19 have their outer surfaces provided with oppositely disposed notches 20. The arms are disposed to pass through the openings 13 in the cap 12, and when in this position the central and outer portion of the bail 17 is received between the lips 11 of the nozzle, thus the bail closes the outer open end of the nozzle.

Slidably mounted on the arms 19, and also received on the pipe member 7 inward of the nozzle end thereof, is a spreader member 21. The spreader member is in the nature of a flat plate and is provided with openings through which the arms of the holder member pass and through which the pipe 7 also passes. The openings through which the arms 19 pass are indicated by the numeral 22, and these openings are located a dis tance away from each other greater than the distance between the openings 13 in the cap 12. It will thus be obvious that by forcing the spreader member toward and against the outer and closed end of the cap the arms 19 will be spread away from each other, causing the notched portions thereof to engage with the outer walls provided by the openings 13 in the cap 12. In a like manner the side portions of the bale end of the holding device will Joe also spread away from each other, causing these portions to contact with the side walls provided in the pocket 16 of the sponge, and thus effectively holding the sponge on the device.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the sponge member is substantially elliptical in plan and is rounded from its body to the central portion of its edges. The spon e is comparatively thin in cross he water delivered through the pipe and nozzle will saturate the sponge, and the comparatively broad outer face of the sponge may be applied for rubbing and cleaning flat or almost flat surfaces of a vehicle, while the rounded edges of the sponge may be inserted between spokes at their juncture with the hubs of the wheels, and any other parts of the vehicle where it is extremely difficult to reach in the usual manner. The operator at all times grasps the handle, and by regulating the valve 4 in the nozzle, which is located conveniently with. respect to the handle, the flow of water through the sponge may be regulated, and itis thought that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction, combination and operation and advantages of the improvement.

In practice I have found it desirable to secure the sponge to the holdin element after the latter has been inserted 1n the slit of the former and after the latter has expanded to contact with the walls made by the slit. By such arrangement I am enabled to employ sponges or other cleaning elements of a determined or desired quality, so that the purchaser thereof will be assured that he is obtaining an article best suited for the work to be performed thereby.

Having thus described the invention, What.

I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a water conducting pipe terminating in an apertured nozzle having its outer end lipped, a handle surrounding and fixed to the pipe, a cap secured to its outer end and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a bail-shaped holder member carried by said handle and havin its arms provided with outwardly disposed notches adjacent to their ends, and means slidably mounted on the pipe for spreading the arms of the holder member away from each other andforcing the notches thereof into locking engagement with the cap aforesaid.

2. A water conducting pipe terminating in an apertured nozzle having its outer end lipped, a handle secured to said pipe and having a plurality of longitudinal openings therein, a cap secured to its outer end and having a plurality of openings therethrough in alinement with the openings in said handle, a bail shaped holder member received between the lips of the nozzle and having its arms extending through the openings in said cap and into the openings in said handle and means slidably mounted on said pipe for spreading the arms of the bail-shaped holder member into locking engagement with the cap aforesaid.

In testimony-whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. CROSBY. 

